The Washington critic., 1887-12-19
A CLOSE CALL.

n OLOOL OllLL-,
While on business trip in the West
some years ago halted one night at a
small town in the Mississippi bottom,
the name of which / cannot at this
moment recall, The village covered n
small knoll, or "rise," and was sur
rounded by dense timber on all sides,
excepting where it overlooked the
"Father of Waters As the railway
would not at all times accommodate
me, l had purchased horse and out
fit, and travelled in this way.
! had put up at the only inn the place
afforded, and having partaken of Il
this day believe was coon (mainly be-
cause my host swore so forcibly to the
contrary, / lit my pipe and sauntered
into the tap-room, store and postotiice--
for it covered all thrce-and seated my
self on soap box by the stove, for the
night was cool and watched the villagers
struggle in to enjoy their evening pipe
and yarn.
In an hour or so the room was well
filed, both with men and smoke, and
the audience seemed complete. With the
exception of myself and the landlord,
who had joined us and who occupied the
position Of state, viz: n soap-box on top
of the counter, they were all either river
or backwoods men, and rough though
jovial set of fellows.
For some time we all smoked in ST.
lence, when suddenly, and without
warning other than a preliminary
chem m," an old fellow with grizzled
gray beard and mat of tangled hair,
partly covered by a coon-skin cap,
knocked the ashes out of his pipe, re-
hlled and lighted it, and spun yarn Of
great length and more or less interest.
When he lad concluded there was q
:ecess 70 glfinks, after which two or
three Of .a,e others entertained us with
homely narratives of their adventures,
and, of course, the attendant "whistle-
wettings" after each one.
There had been, during the first yarn,
new arrival in the camp. He had
come in quietly and had seated himself
on the remaining box, directly under
the swinging lamp. His entrance had
attracted but little attention: but. now,
during comparative lull after the last
story could see that he was an object
OF interest by all in the room.
The newcomer was tall and power
fully built man, roughly clad, with a
handsome, honest face, covered by a
thick, black beard, over which his eyes
twinkled mcrrily. What gave him an
odd appearance and attracted our atten-
ton was the crippled sloping of his left
shoulder, and his long hair, which was
almost snow-white. whispered to my
neighbor and learned that the man was
u stranger and had never been seen in
''these parts before.
In the midst of our silent speculations
as to who and what the newcomer was,
the old fellow, who had spun the intro
ductory yarn, suddenly cleared his
throat and pipe at the same time, and
said:
ance indykates that ye might at some
time in Yer life hev come through a
pritty tuff tussel. Would We mind spin.
min us yarn fer our edyfkashun Z"
The stranger smiled good-naturedly,
and, in pleasant voice, replied:
"I'm not much at telling stories, but
If the boys care to listen I'll relate my
closest call; where got my white hail
and this" and he pointed sorrowfully
to his MANNED shoulder. -
Instantly the room was filed with
"Hear! hear!" and "Go on, pahd" etc.
for oil were anxious to hear his story
but at this juncture the landlord stood
up on the counter, waved his hand
majestically and shouted:
Hold on, gents; hold on. No stranger
tell u new story under old Jake's roof
with a dry whistle All step up
everybody; Jake treats"
This speech was greeted with round
of applause and "Hurrah for Jaker' and
the stepping up" was universal and in
Stantaneous.
The glasses were drained and We all
filed back to our seats, and amid Il gen.
eral relighting of pipes the white-haired
stranger began. The story and the
truthful manner in which he related il
impressed me very much, and / shall
follow his own words MS closely as my
memory will permit me,
"To introduce myself, boys" he be
gan, 81 am Jack Preston, A years old
About twenty-four years ago emigratet
from Ohio with my wife and settled ii
this valley, many miles below here, will
the determination of becoming pioneer
and carving out my fortune with my ax
Neighbors at that time were might,
scarce, ms no doubt many here will re-
member, and found it uphill work
But was young and hopeful and useC
TO hard knocks, and after | got nl
shanty mp and to rights made very iai
progress.
81 arrived early in the spring, and
worked that season.. .as ! never worl;ec
before or since. Winter came an,
found us prepared and my clearing
progressing very niccv. ! had bur
my cabin on an open rise about a milC
from where had decided TO make m
fnrp, aud h,nlp n1l tIis listnpcp | lul
to travel twice daily, and my patti RAJ
almost the entire distance through d
bet OF the heaycst timber IN the bot
tom.
winter set in unusually eaciy, am
with hV>>v fall OF snow, foil wed by
nienso O., II was then dii covere
that Wild /. lmals were still plentiful II
that neigh. ihooA. and even my mex
lcrienced ie toll me theyw ere OF q
sori not to iriilei witn.l
Here he lasel anil relit h 8 pipe.